Convertible rowboat and tent



April 1939- R. w. s-r. DENNIS 2,153,282

CONVERTIBLE ROWBOAT AND TENT Filed Dec. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l I Q R 3 '/?0; W52. 007272215.

ATTORNEYS April 4, 1939. R. w. ST. DENNIS 3, 2

CONVERTIBLE ROWBOAT AND TENT Filed Dec. 28, 1956 3 SheetsShee 2 (u c A v i m a \5 ATTORNEYS BY myzwt a.

April 1939- R. w. 51' DENNIS 2,153,282

CONVERTIBLE ROWBOAT AND TENT Filed Dec. 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "A \1 ?0y WStDazznz's.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE ROWBOAT AND TENT Roy W. St. Dennis, Millbrook, N. Y.

Application December 28, 1936, Serial No. 118,010

1 Claim. (01. 9--2)v This invention relates to a device which may are notched, as shown at 9, and also provided with be easily and quickly converted into either a projections II]. The sides 2 are provided with tent or a boat and has for the primary object projections II and notches I2. The projections the provision of a simple and inexpensive de- II fit within the notches 9 and the projections vice of this character which may be readily I6 extend into the notches I2. Overlapping I folded into a compact bundle so that it may be brackets I3 are secured to the end and side memcarried manually with ease and when set up as bers where the projections I0 of the end mema boat will provide maximum safety and may be bers extend into the slots I2 of the sides. Subeasily rowed and when set up as a tent will stantially U-shaped clamps I4 are secured to the provide efficient and weather proof protection ends 3 and overlie the notches 9 to confine the 10 against weather elements. D lGCtiOHS ll th re With these and other objects in View, this in- Quick detachable tie rods I5 are detachably vention consists in certain novel features of conconnected to the sides 2 and overlie the botstruction, combination and'arrangement of parts tom 4. Braces I6 in the form of skeleton frames to be hereinafter more fully described and are provided with projections I! to fit between 15 claimed. pairs of ribs of the sides. The braces I6 are For a complete understanding of my lnvenconnected to the sides by hooks and eyes l8. tion, reference is to be had to the following de- The braces I6 underlie seats I9, the ends of which scription and accompanying drawings, in which are notched to receive the ribs of the sides 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a A waterproof covering 20 shaped to cover the 20 boat constructed by my invention. frame I is provided at its edges with flaps 2I Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line to receive strips 22. Certain of the strips 22 are 2-2 of Figure 1. connected to the sides of the frame I by quick Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken detachable fasteners 23. The fasteners 23 are on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. of the ball and socket type. The covering also 25 Figure 4is aside elevation, partly broken away, is provided with eyelets to receive lacings 24 to show my invention collapsed and arranged passing about the uppermost m m r 6 of h in bundle formation. sides 2 and also the strips secured in the hems Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating a water or flaps 0f the Covering The covering 20 s proof covering. best illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 which show 30 Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the the corner folds 20. covering converted into a tent. The sides have secured thereto oar locks 25 Figure 7 is an end view, partly in section, to receive oars 26 whereby the boat may be showing one of the end frames of the boat. rowed. 5 Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line The frame I of the character described, can 88 of Figure 7. be easily collapsed, that is, the sides and bot- Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showtom folded due to their sectional formation and ing means of detachably securing the covering the seats, braces and tie rods can be easily to the boat frame. detached permitting the frame to be folded so Figure 10 is a plan view, illustrating the boat that it can be easily handled and carried. The 40 covering. covering 20 may be employed for wrapping the Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view collapsed frame or the covering 20 may be emshowing folded corners of the covering. ployed for forming one portion of a tent 26,

Referring in detail to the drawings. the nuas shown in Figure 6, the other portion of the 5 meral I indicates a boat frame of skeleton fortent being formed by an extra strip of Water mation consisting of sides 2, ends 3 and a botproof material 21 detachably secured to the covtom 4. The sides include ribs 5 and longitudiering 26, as shown at 28, and which provides nally extending strips 6. The sides and bottom a flap 29 to overlie the joint between the coverare composed of sections connected by hinges 1 ing 20 and the fabric strip 21 and to provide a which will permit said sides and bottom to be double thickness where the tent passes over 50 folded. One of the ends is of a greater widthv a reach pole 30. The reach pole is sectional than the other to provide the stern to the boat and detachably joined by a. sleeve 3|. The ends frame. The lowermost strips 6 of the sides are of the reach pole have hooks 32 to engage with notched to receive the ends of transverse memeyes 33 secured to the cars 26, the cars 26 actbers 8 of the bottom 4. The end members 3 ing as poles for the tent. Suitable lacings 34 55 may be provided for securing the tent to stakes.

The frame I or the parts thereof when collapsed may be split into a pair of bundles, one bundle may be wrapped in the covering 20 and the other bundle may be wrapped in the strip 21 so that the device thus separated may be easily carried by persons.

A device of the character described can be easily set up to provide a boat capable of carrying loads with safety or the covering going to form the boat may be employed to construct a tent with the oars of the boat acting as tent poles. The covering and a similar strip of fabric can be employed forwrapping the collapsed frame of the boat into a compact bundle so that it may be manually transported.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A collapsible boat comprising sides, ends and a bottom each separable from one another, said side and ends having notches, projections formed on said sides and ends and extending into said notches, overlapping brackets secured to the sides and ends, substantially U-shaped clamps secured on said ends and-overlying the notches of the ends to confine the projections of the sides therein, said sides including spaced strips, extensions formed on the bottom and fitting between said strips, tie rods connecting the sides and arranged adjacent the bottom, braces resting on said bottom and of skeleton formation, ribs for said sides and grouped in closely related pairs, projections on said braces and extending between the pairs of ribs, seats carried by said braces and notched to receive the ribs, separable fasteners connecting the braces to said sides, and a cover secured to said sides and ends and underlying the bottom, said fasteners of a ball and yieldable socket construction whereby to facilitate ready attachment and detachment of said cover relative to said sides, ends and bottom.

ROY W. ST. DENNIS. 

